One aspect characteristic of the Bible is its obscurity and lack of resolution to events. The story of Adam and Eve is a pertinent example. Once banished from Eden, we know little about what becomes of the couple, or their feelings towards each other after the tense and blameful event. The following "Conversation That Never Happened" provides some insight into the feelings and dilemma of Adam and Eve. By observing a few different sources, such as the Portrait of Adam and Eve by Peter Paul Rubens, the Dialogue they exchange, and the Analysis of both their conversation and their characters, we are able to understand more about their relationship, as well what may have happened after Adam and Eve were kicked out of Paradise.
Dialogue
Narrator: After being expelled from the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve find themselves in the forest, with nothing but the clothes on their backs.Eve: So God’s little punishment turned out to be a blessing. Now we can spend a little more time getting to know each other. Adam:(teeth clenched) You stupid woman! Why did I ever listen to you? You are the reason we are out here, cold and hungry! I think I’m going to build a fire…
Eve: I’ll be glad to keep you warm if that doesn’t work. Adam:(frustrated) Dear God, why did you send me this woman? Eve:(soothingly) Darling, you’re just upset. Once we’re snuggled up by the nice warm fire, you’ll forget you were ever upset. Adam:
Stop it! It’s your flirting that got me into this mess in the first place! And thanks to you, we’re on our own. So I’m in charge now, just as God created me to be. Now, I am going to make a warm fire and get some sleep. Tomorrow we can build an altar and beg forgiveness of God for what we did. Eve:
Hurry back, sweetheart!Narrator: As soon as she was sure Adam was out of earshot, Eve said to herself: Eve:(Indignantly, to herself) Beg forgiveness of God! Oh, please! Who put him in charge anyway? The serpent didn’t deceive me, he told me the truth! Actually, he was the only person I’ve ever met who wasn’t a total egomaniac! Narrator:
While wandering the forest in search of wood for the fire, Adam considered his situation. Adam:
This is quite a mess. Now God has abandoned me here, and has associated me with Eve, the real sinner! I wont survive long out here in the wilderness; I have to work my way back into God’s favor soon! But with Eve around, he definitely will not consider letting me back into the garden! No, if I want to live like I once did, I must leave Eve. This doesn’t make me the best husband, but God will appreciate that I am doing whatever I must in order to make him love me! Narrator:
Having made his decision, Adam began to walk more quickly away from the campsite, leading a sinuous path in order to hide his tracks. Eve had decided to see what was taking him so long, and had seen him hurrying away through the trees. Quietly, she followed. After a while, Adam stopped to catch his breath. Adam:(Out of breath) Phew! That was quite a workout! I cannot wait until I am back in Eden and never have to move again! Eve:(Seductively) You look fit as a fiddle to me, Adam darling. Adam:(Startled) WHOA! You followed me? God gave me power over you, and I told you to stay at the site. How dare you disobey me like that! Eve:(frustrated) Oh, I’m tired of all these rules and obligations! I don’t want to make an altar, so I’m not going to. Who cares? Come on, we’re already in trouble! Why can’t you just relax and have some fun? This is the first time that guy hasn’t given us orders or told us what to do since we were created! Let’s enjoy it! Come sit in the grass with me. Adam:(yelling) Enough! You let that evil, lying serpent trick you and got us both in trouble, and now you want to go skipping around making more? All you have to do is be good and help me build an altar and make a sacrifice, but you’re too stubborn and lazy to do any work! Eve: Don’t you see who the liar is here? That snake didn’t say a single thing that wasn’t true! Can’t you understand that God threw us out because he was afraid that with the help of that snake, that he would lose his power over us? Or are you just looking for an excuse to get rid of me so that you can bask in paradise and get God’s favor all to yourself! (Pause) Fine. Then if that’s what you want, you can have it. I’ll go. But one day you’ll wake up after hundreds of the same, sunny old days in Eden, eat your millionth piece of fruit, and realize you’d rather live a real, exciting life out here with me!Adam:
Say what you want, Eve, but leave me out of your schemes. I’m done with you. I’m going to get myself back onto God’s good side, and back into Eden. Just leave, before he sees me with you again!
Eve: All right. Good luck. Seriously. If that’s how you want to live, then I hope you succeed. Adam: (matter of fact-ly) You’re going to hell, Eve. Eve:(loudly and angrily) And who besides God ever said that’s a bad thing? A place full of people like me, who aren’t afraid to challenge His rules? Maybe it’s not such a terrible place to be. Adam: Get away from me.
Narrator:
Eve turned away from Adam and walked into the trees, glad to finally be free.
Dialogue Analysis
Eve, the dialogue’s protagonist, is a very intricate character. Her personality synthesizes an old fashioned womanly persona, and a more rebellious and thoughtful one. Through her seduction, she exhibits her feminine power, the only strength God intended to give her. Through her pensiveness and defiance, she displays her disobedient nature, a characteristic that frightens God.
After they are expelled from the garden, Adam frantically goes about deciding what they ought to do in order to impel God to forgive them. Eve resists, and instead suggests that they “spend a little more time getting to know each other”. This remark illustrates the common motif of women achieving their goals through sex appeal, which many women employed for lack of a better method of getting what they desired. At this point in the dialogue, the author intends us to believe that this is all that Eve is capable of as well. Like many women today who use their sexuality to distract people from their true personalities, Eve simply uses her womanly gifts to fool the men around her (including God) into thinking they have full control. She demonstrates this once Adam is out of earshot, by muttering to herself, “[The Serpent] was the only creature I ever met who wasn’t a total egomaniac!” Her words indicate her distaste for the characters of the men in her life, as well as what an impressive job she has done of hiding her unconventional sentiments, which gives the reader an insight into the complexity of her character.
Eve’s rebellious nature is the reason for Adam and her banishment from Eden. Even this blow, which meant a mortal life of hard work for the couple, cannot keep her defiant nature in check. When Adam orders her to help him to build an altar to God, she replies, “Oh, I’m tired of all these rules and obligations! I don’t want to make an altar, so I’m not going to.” The author includes statements like these to emphasize a more modern attribute to her personality. For a woman to react in this manner towards her husband, especially regarding God, is unprecedented in these times. Eve’s ability to stand up to her husband and challenge his loyalty to such a controlling power shows both her good sense and her defiance. Her complaints about rules and obligations convey the fact that Eve is not another mindless follower of God, as he wants her to be, and is unafraid to say so. In addition, she is unafraid to forge her own path in an unfamiliar place, as she does in the conclusion of the dialogue, which illustrates her conviction of her own rebellious beliefs.
Character Analysis
Because women are given little power in Biblical society, Eve is forced to use her femininity to get what she wants, and is unwilling to follow the rules. In this image, called Adam and Eve, the artist, Peter Paul Reubens, depicts Eve as youthful and curvy, leaning her body seductively against the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Adam perches opposite Eve, and the Serpent is close to her ear. The expression on Eves face is not one of despair, but more of a playful childlike look, which the artist conveys through her downcast eyes and soft looking features, looking as though she is more upset at being reprimanded than having committed her fatal deed. This countenance helps the painter to portray Eve as the id, governed solely by desire, lacking the thoughtfulness to predict the consequences of her actions. Such behavior would characterize a child as naïve. A child’s excuse would be their innocence and lack of experience. But in a woman, this conduct leads to the conclusion that the woman is seductive, using her femininity and charm to get her out of trouble in much the same way a child uses his innocence. The characterization of Eve in this manner is part of a theme found throughout Genesis, where women are forced to resort to deceitful methods in order to get what they want. The story of Adam and Eve shows the unequal and inferior treatment of women from the moment of their very creation. This treatment is the reason women are perceived throughout the text as worthless and untrustworthy.
After creating Adam and Eve, God puts them in Eden, a paradise all to themselves where the couple could have and do all they wanted. But He had one simple rule. God says to Adam and Eve, “ ‘of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for on the day that you eat of it you shall die’ “. (Gen. 2.17) The word ‘eat’ in this story plays a crucial role in the banishment of Adam and Eve from the garden. God really could not have made it any clearer than he did. He says that if they are to eat from this particular tree, their days on earth will become numbered. And yet Eve, blatantly disobeying God, does the very thing he forbids. An important trait of Eve’s is made clear by her action. Her disobedient nature is revealed, something it is not in God’s nature to overlook. In fact, He was able to turn Eve into an example of the consequences of defying Him, shaming all of her female descendents. A story all about beginnings, Eve’s transgressions are also the beginning of a developing murky relationship between God and mankind.
Adam’s tendency to notice flaws in others causes him to betray them, seeing these people as unworthy of his loyalty. This painting, called Adam and Eve by Peter Paul Reubens, depicts Eve with her body resting against the tree with her eyes downcast in guilt as Adam, his body angled towards her angrily. The most distinct feature of the painting however, is Adam’s hand pointed accusingly at Eve, giving the impression that he is scolding her for her actions. This gesture well embodies one of Adam’s most prominent characteristics- he is judgmental. With Adam’s outstretched finger pointed at Eve, the artist is shows Adam putting all the blame on Eve. Adam sees himself as irreproachable, there is no sentiment of responsibility or guilt in his body language, so fully engaged he is in finding fault with his female counterpart. This feeling of blamelessness found in Adam is passed on through his descendents and eventually becomes a sense of entitlement, which God instills and encourages in his followers throughout Genesis.
After both Eve and Adam eat from the forbidden tree, God comes to confront them about their violation. In his defense, Adam tells God without a qualm, “ ‘the woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me the fruit from the tree’ “. (Gen. 3.8) Adam refers to Eve, his wife and only companion with whom he has gotten along well since their creation, as ‘the woman”. Adam’s disloyal personality is portrayed through his efforts to disassociate himself from Eve. He has no problem deserting her and leaving her with undue punishment if it means he can escape punishment himself. God sees through Adam’s betrayal, however, and presented him with a rather ironic punishment: he would have to work for the rest of his life to survive. Adam did not escape his responsibilities, but was given extra, conveying the theme of justice and punishment that is common throughout Genesis.
About the Artist
Peter Paul Rubens was born on June 28th, 1577 in Siegen, Germany. The son of a Flemish lawyer, Rubens' childhood was divided between time in Germany and Belguim, where he moved when his father died in 1587. In 1600, Rubens moved to Rome, Italy to complete his artistic education. He idolized such icons as Raphael and Michelangelo. Rubens' first commission came in 1601, when he was asked to paint three successive altarpieces in the Church of Sta Croce. Nine years later, the artist returned home to Antwerp, Belgium, and was appointed court painter by Archduke Albert, ruler of the Spanish Netherlands.
Rubens' rise to fame can be accredited to his most famous work, The Raising of the Cross, a triptych (three-paneled painting) which he completed in 1611. After this most famous piece, Reubens had a series of lesser known commissions. His final known work was a cycle of mythological paintings made to decorate the Torre de la Parada, Phillip IV's hunting lodge in Madrid, Spain.
In the last years of his life, the artist was plagued by arthritis to a degree that made it impossible for him to paint. One of his most moving works was his final self-portrait, in which, although he suffers extreme pain, depicts him with an air of placidity and peace. Reubens died at his country estate in Antwerp, Belgium.
Peter Paul Rubens : A full biography of the life of this baroque painter. Gallery: A complete compilation of the works of the artist.
Reflection This project required the use of every skill we have developed this year, from character analysis to wrangling with technology. The project was a great way to summarize the challenges we have encountered. When graded, it will serve as a great indicator as to how well we have absorbed the information we have been taught thus far. If there is any weakness in the project, it stems from the technological aspect of the assignment. The recording was somewhat difficult to maneuver, and seemed unnecessary, although the appeal is understandable when looking at someone else’s wiki page. Creating a page was also somewhat difficult, but all of this was manageable.
My biggest difficulty with this project was with the Dialogue portion. After picking the most prominent traits in each of the characters involved, it was a long process weaving them into the storyline. Finding a balance between exhibiting the traits too obviously and too discretely was very problematic.
All in all, however, I really enjoyed this project, especially writing the analysis of the picture. I also enjoyed the creative aspects, and feel satisfied with my work overall.
Citations
Advameg, Inc. “Peter Paul Rubens: Biography.” Encyclopedia of World Biography. N.p., 2009. Web. 16 May 2010. Art and the Bible. N.p., 2005-2010. Web. 18 May 2010. <http://www.artbible.info/art/large/519.html>.
Forest Path. N.d. HoopGirl. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 May 2010. <http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.hoopgirl.com/blog/hein-van-den-heuvel-forest-path.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.hoopgirl.com/blog/christabels_personal_journal_e/&h=450&w=301&sz=73&tbnid=E8r9_bI6HqNDrM:&tbnh=127&tbnw=85&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dforest&usg=enCgIpOxY5YLgKrdxkM181VNVt4=&ei=ajDzS5DBJYaeswOJ2LysDA&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=5&ct=image&ved=0CCgQ9QEwBA>. Kit. Shoot the Water. N.d. Kit.Blog. Web. 18 May 2010. <http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://kitblog.com/images/_DSC5919.jpg&imgrefurl=http://kitblog.com/2008/02/cool_texture.html&usg=gA7N9kryLAvHCVynQPp6mYj1_NA=&h=662&w=440&sz=209&hl=en&start=7&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=qbtuEuj3Wwl1VM:&tbnh=138&tbnw=92&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dreflection%2Bin%2Bwater%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den%26tbs%3Disch:1>.
Magnifying Glass. N.d. Free ClipArt. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 May 2010. <http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.cksinfo.com/clipart/office/supplies/magnifying-glass-01.png&imgrefurl=http://www.cksinfo.com/office/supplies/page4.html&usg=0pRYfuMYUyRusvONXdyY_f7EAVM=&h=338&w=340&sz=27&hl=en&start=6&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=fIW_XUB7EuuQSM:&tbnh=118&tbnw=119&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmagnifying%2Bglass%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den%26tbs%3Disch:1>. “Peter Paul Rubens: The Complete Works.” Peter Paul Rubens. N.p., 2002-2010. Web. 14 May 2010. <http://www.peterpaulrubens.org/>. Rosie the RIveter. N.d. Learning Resource at the County College of Morris. Web. 1 Nov. 2007. <http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://archive.ccm.edu/rosie/images/WeCanDoItPoster%255B1%255D.jpg&imgrefurl=http://archive.ccm.edu/rosie/index.htm&usg=WvEgLYw-gZAJazM2cMeNyWljyMw=&h=1115&w=844&sz=139&hl=en&start=3&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=lwfYFF20nwmMrM:&tbnh=150&tbnw=114&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dwe%2Bcan%2Bdo%2Bit%2Bwoman%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26sa%3DG%26rls%3Den%26tbs%3Disch:1>.
Rubens, Peter Paul. Adam And Eve. 1597. OCAIW. Web. 18 May 2010. <http://www.ocaiw.com/galleria_maestri/image.php?id=623&catalog=pitt&start=&lang=en&letter=&id_img=1978&name=>.
- - -. Raising the Cross. 1609. Peter Paul Rubens. Web. 18 May 2010. <http://www.peterpaulrubens.org/>.
- - -. Self Portrait. N.d. Icons of Europe. Web. 18 May 2010. <http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.iconsofeurope.com/rub50.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.iconsofeurope.com/countryBE.htm&h=559&w=406&sz=15&tbnid=0BIwv9fjUrxk8M:&tbnh=133&tbnw=97&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpeter%2Bpaul%2Brubens%2Bself%2Bportrait&usg=__4B_O-J5WIo4BIwPuAAtElxu3gms=&ei=-DDzS-m7Noa6swOf1biXDA&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=4&ct=image&ved=0CCEQ9QEwAw>.
Kicked out of Paradise
By Mara V.
One aspect characteristic of the Bible is its obscurity and lack of resolution to events. The story of Adam and Eve is a pertinent example. Once banished from Eden, we know little about what becomes of the couple, or their feelings towards each other after the tense and blameful event. The following "Conversation That Never Happened"Dialogue
Narrator:
After being expelled from the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve find themselves in the forest, with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Eve: So God’s little punishment turned out to be a blessing. Now we can spend a little more time getting to know each other.
Adam: (teeth clenched) You stupid woman! Why did I ever listen to you? You are the reason we are out here, cold and hungry! I think I’m going to build a fire…
Eve: I’ll be glad to keep you warm if that doesn’t work.
Adam: (frustrated) Dear God, why did you send me this woman?
Eve: (soothingly) Darling, you’re just upset. Once we’re snuggled up by the nice warm fire, you’ll forget you were ever upset.
Adam:
Stop it! It’s your flirting that got me into this mess in the first place! And thanks to you, we’re on our own. So I’m in charge now, just as God created me to be. Now, I am going to make a warm fire and get some sleep. Tomorrow we can build an altar and beg forgiveness of God for what we did.
Eve:
Hurry back, sweetheart! Narrator: As soon as she was sure Adam was out of earshot, Eve said to herself:
Eve: (Indignantly, to herself) Beg forgiveness of God! Oh, please! Who put him in charge anyway? The serpent didn’t deceive me, he told me the truth! Actually, he was the only person I’ve ever met who wasn’t a total egomaniac!
Narrator:
While wandering the forest in search of wood for the fire, Adam considered his situation.
Adam:
This is quite a mess. Now God has abandoned me here, and has associated me with Eve, the real sinner! I wont survive long out here in the wilderness; I have to work my way back into God’s favor soon! But with Eve around, he definitely will not consider letting me back into the garden! No, if I want to live like I once did, I must leave Eve. This doesn’t make me the best husband, but God will appreciate that I am doing whatever I must in order to make him love me!
Narrator:
Having made his decision, Adam began to walk more quickly away from the campsite, leading a sinuous path in order to hide his tracks. Eve had decided to see what was taking him so long, and had seen him hurrying away through the trees. Quietly, she followed. After a while, Adam stopped to catch his breath.
Adam: (Out of breath) Phew! That was quite a workout! I cannot wait until I am back in Eden and never have to move again!
Eve: (Seductively) You look fit as a fiddle to me, Adam darling.
Adam: (Startled) WHOA! You followed me? God gave me power over you, and I told you to stay at the site. How dare you disobey me like that!
Eve: (frustrated) Oh, I’m tired of all these rules and obligations! I don’t want to make an altar, so I’m not going to. Who cares? Come on, we’re already in trouble! Why can’t you just relax and have some fun? This is the first time that guy hasn’t given us orders or told us what to do since we were created! Let’s enjoy it! Come sit in the grass with me.
Adam: (yelling) Enough! You let that evil, lying serpent trick you and got us both in trouble, and now you want to go skipping around making more? All you have to do is be good and help me build an altar and make a sacrifice, but you’re too stubborn and lazy to do any work!
Eve: Don’t you see who the liar is here? That snake didn’t say a single thing that wasn’t true! Can’t you understand that God threw us out because he was afraid that with the help of that snake, that he would lose his power over us? Or are you just looking for an excuse to get rid of me so that you can bask in paradise and get God’s favor all to yourself! (Pause) Fine. Then if that’s what you want, you can have it. I’ll go. But one day you’ll wake up after hundreds of the same, sunny old days in Eden, eat your millionth piece of fruit, and realize you’d rather live a real, exciting life out here with me!Adam:
Say what you want, Eve, but leave me out of your schemes. I’m done with you. I’m going to get myself back onto God’s good side, and back into Eden. Just leave, before he sees me with you again!
Eve: All right. Good luck. Seriously. If that’s how you want to live, then I hope you succeed.
Adam: (matter of fact-ly) You’re going to hell, Eve.
Eve: (loudly and angrily) And who besides God ever said that’s a bad thing? A place full of people like me, who aren’t afraid to challenge His rules? Maybe it’s not such a terrible place to be.
Adam:
Get away from me.
Narrator:
Eve turned away from Adam and walked into the trees, glad to finally be free.
Dialogue Analysis
Eve, the dialogue’s protagonist, is a very intricate character. Her personality synthesizes an old fashioned womanly persona, and a more rebellious and thoughtful one. Through her seduction, she exhibits her feminine power, the only strength God intended to give her. Through her pensiveness and defiance, she displays her disobedient nature, a characteristic that frightens God.
After they are expelled from the garden, Adam frantically goes about deciding what they ought to do in order to impel God to forgive them. Eve resists, and instead suggests that they “spend a little more time getting to know each other”. This remark illustrates the common motif of women achieving their goals through sex appeal, which many women employed for lack of a better method of getting what they desired. At this point in the dialogue, the author intends us to believe that this is all that Eve is capable of as well. Like many women today who use their sexuality to distract people from their true personalities, Eve simply uses her womanly gifts to fool the men around her (including God) into thinking they have full control. She demonstrates this once Adam is out of earshot, by muttering to herself, “[The Serpent] was the only creature I ever met who wasn’t a total egomaniac!” Her words indicate her distaste for the characters of the men in her life, as well as what an impressive job she has done of hiding her unconventional sentiments, which gives the reader an insight into the complexity of her character.
Eve’s rebellious nature is the reason for Adam and her banishment from Eden. Even this blow, which meant a mortal life of hard work for the couple, cannot keep her defiant nature in check. When Adam orders her to help him to build an altar to God, she replies, “Oh, I’m tired of all these rules and obligations! I don’t want to make an altar, so I’m not going to.” The author includes statements like these to emphasize a more modern attribute to her personality. For a woman to react in this manner towards her husband, especially regarding God, is unprecedented in these times. Eve’s ability to stand up to her husband and challenge his loyalty to such a controlling power shows both her good sense and her defiance. Her complaints about rules and obligations convey the fact that Eve is not another mindless follower of God, as he wants her to be, and is unafraid to say so. In addition, she is unafraid to forge her own path in an unfamiliar place, as she does in the conclusion of the dialogue, which illustrates her conviction of her own rebellious beliefs.
Character Analysis
Because women are given little power in Biblical society, Eve is forced to use her femininity to get what she wants, and is unwilling to follow the rules. In this image, called Adam and Eve, the artist, Peter Paul Reubens, depicts Eve as youthful and curvy, leaning her body seductively against the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Adam perches opposite Eve, and the Serpent is close to her ear. The expression on Eves face is not one of despair, but more of a playful childlike look, which the artist conveys through her downcast eyes and soft looking features, looking as though she is more upset at being reprimanded than having committed her fatal deed. This countenance helps the painter to portray Eve as the id, governed solely by desire, lacking the thoughtfulness to predict the consequences of her actions. Such behavior would characterize a child as naïve. A child’s excuse would be their innocence and lack of experience. But in a woman, this conduct leads to the conclusion that the woman is seductive, using her femininity and charm to get her out of trouble in much the same way a child uses his innocence. The characterization of Eve in this manner is part of a theme found throughout Genesis, where women are forced to resort to deceitful methods in order to get what they want. The story of Adam and Eve shows the unequal and inferior treatment of women from the moment of their very creation. This treatment is the reason women are perceived throughout the text as worthless and untrustworthy.
After creating Adam and Eve, God puts them in Eden, a paradise all to themselves where the couple could have and do all they wanted. But He had one simple rule. God says to Adam and Eve, “ ‘of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for on the day that you eat of it you shall die’ “. (Gen. 2.17) The word ‘eat’ in this story plays a crucial role in the banishment of Adam and Eve from the garden. God really could not have made it any clearer than he did. He says that if they are to eat from this particular tree, their days on earth will become numbered. And yet Eve, blatantly disobeying God, does the very thing he forbids. An important trait of Eve’s is made clear by her action. Her disobedient nature is revealed, something it is not in God’s nature to overlook. In fact, He was able to turn Eve into an example of the consequences of defying Him, shaming all of her female descendents. A story all about beginnings, Eve’s transgressions are also the beginning of a developing murky relationship between God and mankind.
Adam’s tendency to notice flaws in others causes him to betray them, seeing these people as unworthy of his loyalty. This painting, called Adam and Eve by Peter Paul Reubens, depicts Eve with her body resting against the tree with her eyes downcast in guilt as Adam, his body angled towards her angrily. The most distinct feature of the painting however, is Adam’s hand pointed accusingly at Eve, giving the impression that he is scolding her for her actions. This gesture well embodies one of Adam’s most prominent characteristics- he is judgmental. With Adam’s outstretched finger pointed at Eve, the artist is shows Adam putting all the blame on Eve. Adam sees himself as irreproachable, there is no sentiment of responsibility or guilt in his body language, so fully engaged he is in finding fault with his female counterpart. This feeling of blamelessness found in Adam is passed on through his descendents and eventually becomes a sense of entitlement, which God instills and encourages in his followers throughout Genesis.
After both Eve and Adam eat from the forbidden tree, God comes to confront them about their violation. In his defense, Adam tells God without a qualm, “ ‘the woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me the fruit from the tree’ “. (Gen. 3.8) Adam refers to Eve, his wife and only companion with whom he has gotten along well since their creation, as ‘the woman”. Adam’s disloyal personality is portrayed through his efforts to disassociate himself from Eve. He has no problem deserting her and leaving her with undue punishment if it means he can escape punishment himself. God sees through Adam’s betrayal, however, and presented him with a rather ironic punishment: he would have to work for the rest of his life to survive. Adam did not escape his responsibilities, but was given extra, conveying the theme of justice and punishment that is common throughout Genesis.
About the Artist
Peter Paul Rubens was born on June 28th, 1577 in Siegen, Germany. The son of a Flemish lawyer, Rubens' childhood was divided between time in Germany and Belguim, where he moved when his father died in 1587. In 1600, Rubens moved to Rome, Italy to complete his artistic education. He idolized such icons as Raphael and Michelangelo. Rubens' first commission came in 1601, when he was asked to paint three successive altarpieces in the Church of Sta Croce. Nine years later, the artist returned home to Antwerp, Belgium, and was appointed court painter by Archduke Albert, ruler of the Spanish Netherlands.
Rubens' rise to fame can be accredited to his most famous work, The Raising of the Cross, a triptych (three-paneled painting) which he completed in 1611. After this most famous piece, Reubens had a series of lesser known commissions. His final known work was a cycle of mythological paintings made to decorate the Torre de la Parada, Phillip IV's hunting lodge in Madrid, Spain.
In the last years of his life, the artist was plagued by arthritis to a degree that made it impossible for him to paint. One of his most moving works was his final self-portrait, in which, although he suffers extreme pain, depicts him with an air of placidity and peace. Reubens died at his country estate in Antwerp, Belgium.
Peter Paul Rubens : A full biography of the life of this baroque painter.
Gallery: A complete compilation of the works of the artist.
Reflection This project required the use of every skill we have developed this year, from character analysis to wrangling with technology. The project was a great way to summarize the challenges we have encountered. When graded, it will serve as a great indicator as to how well we have absorbed the information we have been taught thus far. If there is any weakness in the project, it stems from the technological aspect of the assignment. The recording was somewhat difficult to maneuver, and seemed unnecessary, although the appeal is understandable when looking at someone else’s wiki page. Creating a page was also somewhat difficult, but all of this was manageable.
My biggest difficulty with this project was with the Dialogue portion. After picking the most prominent traits in each of the characters involved, it was a long process weaving them into the storyline. Finding a balance between exhibiting the traits too obviously and too discretely was very problematic.
All in all, however, I really enjoyed this project, especially writing the analysis of the picture. I also enjoyed the creative aspects, and feel satisfied with my work overall.
Citations
Advameg, Inc. “Peter Paul Rubens: Biography.” Encyclopedia of World Biography. N.p., 2009. Web. 16 May 2010.
Art and the Bible. N.p., 2005-2010. Web. 18 May 2010. <http://www.artbible.info/art/large/519.html>.
Forest Path. N.d. HoopGirl. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 May 2010. <http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.hoopgirl.com/blog/hein-van-den-heuvel-forest-path.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.hoopgirl.com/blog/christabels_personal_journal_e/&h=450&w=301&sz=73&tbnid=E8r9_bI6HqNDrM:&tbnh=127&tbnw=85&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dforest&usg=enCgIpOxY5YLgKrdxkM181VNVt4=&ei=ajDzS5DBJYaeswOJ2LysDA&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=5&ct=image&ved=0CCgQ9QEwBA>.
Kit. Shoot the Water. N.d. Kit.Blog. Web. 18 May 2010. <http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://kitblog.com/images/_DSC5919.jpg&imgrefurl=http://kitblog.com/2008/02/cool_texture.html&usg=gA7N9kryLAvHCVynQPp6mYj1_NA=&h=662&w=440&sz=209&hl=en&start=7&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=qbtuEuj3Wwl1VM:&tbnh=138&tbnw=92&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dreflection%2Bin%2Bwater%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den%26tbs%3Disch:1>.
Magnifying Glass. N.d. Free ClipArt. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 May 2010. <http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.cksinfo.com/clipart/office/supplies/magnifying-glass-01.png&imgrefurl=http://www.cksinfo.com/office/supplies/page4.html&usg=0pRYfuMYUyRusvONXdyY_f7EAVM=&h=338&w=340&sz=27&hl=en&start=6&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=fIW_XUB7EuuQSM:&tbnh=118&tbnw=119&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmagnifying%2Bglass%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den%26tbs%3Disch:1>.
“Peter Paul Rubens: The Complete Works.” Peter Paul Rubens. N.p., 2002-2010. Web. 14 May 2010. <http://www.peterpaulrubens.org/>.
Rosie the RIveter. N.d. Learning Resource at the County College of Morris. Web. 1 Nov. 2007. <http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://archive.ccm.edu/rosie/images/WeCanDoItPoster%255B1%255D.jpg&imgrefurl=http://archive.ccm.edu/rosie/index.htm&usg=WvEgLYw-gZAJazM2cMeNyWljyMw=&h=1115&w=844&sz=139&hl=en&start=3&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=lwfYFF20nwmMrM:&tbnh=150&tbnw=114&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dwe%2Bcan%2Bdo%2Bit%2Bwoman%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26sa%3DG%26rls%3Den%26tbs%3Disch:1>.
Rubens, Peter Paul. Adam And Eve. 1597. OCAIW. Web. 18 May 2010. <http://www.ocaiw.com/galleria_maestri/image.php?id=623&catalog=pitt&start=&lang=en&letter=&id_img=1978&name=>.
- - -. Raising the Cross. 1609. Peter Paul Rubens. Web. 18 May 2010. <http://www.peterpaulrubens.org/>.
- - -. Self Portrait. N.d. Icons of Europe. Web. 18 May 2010. <http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.iconsofeurope.com/rub50.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.iconsofeurope.com/countryBE.htm&h=559&w=406&sz=15&tbnid=0BIwv9fjUrxk8M:&tbnh=133&tbnw=97&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpeter%2Bpaul%2Brubens%2Bself%2Bportrait&usg=__4B_O-J5WIo4BIwPuAAtElxu3gms=&ei=-DDzS-m7Noa6swOf1biXDA&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=4&ct=image&ved=0CCEQ9QEwAw>.